Repeal of fee discussed

In a brief meeting Thursday morning, the Leavenworth County Commission discussed the possible repeal of the state mortgage registration fee.

By Andrea JohnsonTimes Contributing Writer

In a brief meeting Thursday morning, the Leavenworth County Commission discussed the possible repeal of the state mortgage registration fee. During the public comment period, local resident, Louie Klemp, raised questions about city and county parking allotments and the prioritization of “money maker” functions.

After the public comment period, the two county commissioners in attendance — Bob Holland and Clyde Graeber — listened to County Administrator Pat Hurley discuss the recent Kansas City Regional Realtors Association meeting he attended. The primary issue at the meeting was the proposed repeal of the mortgage registration fee – .26 percent of the total mortgage amount — during the next legislative session. Miami, Wyandotte, Johnson, and Leavenworth counties all had representatives at the meeting, and Franklin County submitted a statement. According to representatives at the meeting, the Kansas Bankers Association is expected to launch a $250,000 campaign in support of the repeal, arguing that the mortgage registration fee disadvantages their businesses that compete with farm credit loan organizations that don’t require the fee.

Repealing the fee would cost the county approximately a million dollars in lost revenue, a significant cut to county funds that Commissioner Graeber noted could endanger existing county services or require a raise of the mill levy. The other county representatives at the Association meeting concurred that their counties would also suffer financially if the fee was repealed. Commissioner Graeber suggested that the county commissioners and county administrator needed to discuss the issue with local representatives to ensure the county concerns were heard.

Hurley suggested scheduling a meeting. The only other new business the commission acted on was an approval of the appointment of a new deputy district coroner for the First Judicial District.

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